that these elected officials manufactured a crisis and can't get themselves out of the box that they constructed? what does it say? >> it says that we don't have just an ideological divide. we have a crisis of self-government right now. to be real clear about it. this is a time bomb that congress set. nobody wants to see frustration cuts. but that's the stick they put to their own head as a way of compelling a deal to get done. and a deal doesn't get done. we're not even aiming for the grand bargain that is necessary to reduce long-term deficits and debt. we weren't that far from a deal two weeks ago. but we are today. we're going to get a patch and be here again in two months. congress can't get out of its own way. we keep setting our own traps. and we can't find a way to reason together. >> john, we appreciate the clarity, even if it's depressing. thank you very much. john avlon. >>> a lot of other news developing overnight. for that, let's check in, as always, with mr. ron claiborne. good morning, sir. >> hi, dan, bianna. mr. avlon, good morning, everyone. we begin in australia, w